"I'm walking through the picket line," Rose said. "It's not because I don't care, it's that I need to get groceries and I don't care to go to the competition."

Rose said she came from a family of self-employed, non-union workers and doesn't know why the United Food and Commercial Workers Union doesn't go after places like Walmart.

"I don't have the sympathy," she said. "I know times are tough, but they've got jobs for God's sake."

Several elderly shoppers patroned Raley's Friday as well, mostly because of routine and because driving to other stores is too far, one shopper explained.

Another shopper, who did not want to be named, said she did feel bad for the workers on strike, but bought groceries anyway on behalf of an employer who cannot leave the house.

The strike, which started Sunday, reaches well beyond Woodland. It represents 7,500 workers at 90 out of Raley's 120 stores in Northern California and Nevada.

Raley's imposed contract will freeze pay increases for two years and eliminate premium pay for Sundays and holidays, said company spokesman John Segale - although Sunday shifts will still pay double time.

Segale said the company made its last best offer four weeks ago. Receiving no response from the union and after talks with a federal mediator failed, he said, Raley's unilaterally imposed the new pay terms on Sunday.

Raley's workers said they could give a toss about pay and holiday time right now. Rather, their only concern is their health benefits, present and future.

"I worked all those years - nights, holidays, evenings - so I'd have health care when I retire, and that's what it looks like I'll lose," said Anthony Salvemini, who worked at Raley's for 22 years and as a retail clerk for 37 years.

Salvemini, who retired almost 11 years ago, is fighting for his health benefits along with current Raley's workers, who are instructed not to speak to the media and are maintaining anonymity.

"Now when I need health care the most I'll lose it if (Raley's) gets his way," said Salvemini, who just had knee replacement surgery. "The whole thing is just unfair."

Meanwhile, Segale said that workers were being misinformed, that the imposed terms do not affect health benefits. The grocery company declares it needs to cut costs due to the heightened competition in the grocery business.

Safeway and Vons union workers avoided picketing after reaching tentative labor agreements Thursday. After 15 months of contentious labor negotiations, Raley's remains the only company who has not signed the union plan.

This is the first strike in the West Sacramento-based grocer's history.

"We will not let up on Raley's until they come to their senses," said Union President Jacques Loveall in a recorded phone message Thursday. "Now is not the time to sit back and breathe easy."